Stewed Meat

Xiao Zhe, Xu Hua, and the others brought the other half dog carcass back to their camp. Although they had lost a few companions, gaining over 100 pounds of dog meat was still a very good prize.

The people back at camp had already prepared to stew the dog meat.

After dressing their wounds, Xiao Zhe and Xu Hua sat together.

"Xu Hua, what do you think of Yang Xiao?" Xiao Zhe asked.

Xu Hua thought for a moment then said, "Yang Xiao is much more formidable than I imagined. His strength, speed, and reaction time all seem above ours. Also, what is that black sword he has? I've never seen anything like it before."

"That's right. He stabbed right into that black dog with one strike and cut it in half. You know these mutated wolf claws of mine are sharp enough, but I could only scratch the black dog's skin, not pierce its body at all. Objectively speaking, it's fortunate he was there today. Otherwise, the two of us might not be sitting here now."

Xiao Zhe and Xu Hua exchanged glances and nodded.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Zhe said, "Let's hold off becoming enemies with Yang Xiao for now. In two days, the mutations on Earth will be complete. I'm afraid we'll face attacks from many mutated creatures then. That black dog today was already so powerful, there are likely even more fearsome mutated beasts out there."

"Mm, I agree with you. Let's just focus on surviving this period first. I heard from the Gene Store owner that after Earth's creatures complete their mutations, we can hunt and kill them for genetic fragments to enhance our own potential. At that time, we need to raise our own abilities as quickly as possible. Once we gain control of the situation, we can settle personal grudges then."

Xiao Zhe's men had gone to scavenge the academy ruins and brought back several big pots to stew all the dog meat in.

...

Besides the bones, Yang Xiao stewed about 30 pounds of dog meat, aiming for everyone to have 1 pound of meat each. The remaining 80-90 pounds were salted and left soaking in buckets to be dried tomorrow.

Huang Wen's side had more complete seasonings. Plus many of the girls knew how to cook at home. They added salt, ginger, and garlic to the dog meat soup. One girl had luckily found two large cassia barks in the ruins and broke off some pieces to add to the pot.

After simmering for half an hour, the alluring aroma was already wafting in the air. After another hour, the fragrance of the dog meat grew richer and richer.

Sitting behind the counter of the Gene Store, Gu Bo couldn't help but sneeze at the tantalizing smell of dog meat floating in the air.

"Ah-choo!"

The smell!

"Hehe, Old Gu, come have a bowl of dog meat soup. I guarantee it's tastier than yesterday's eel soup," Yang Xiao called out.

Looking at him, Gu Bo swallowed and smiled awkwardly. "I shouldn't take rewards I didn't earn. You all have scarce food, I can't just eat your food for free. But I also can't give you any more weapons."

"Sigh, don't stand on ceremony. I'm treating you, no need to feel burdened. Come on over."

Gu Bo's eyes narrowed to a slit. "Then...I'll really go?"

"Of course, it's just a bowl of dog meat soup."

"Alright then."

Gu Bo emerged from behind the counter and casually cast some kind of spell. A pale blue light screen immediately sealed up the entire counter.

Exiting the Gene Store, Yang Xiao glanced at the two towering guards at the entrance and said, "Why not bring the two warrior heroes along for a bowl of soup too?"

As far as Yang Xiao knew, these two warriors had been standing guard at the door nearly 24/7. He never saw them eat, drink, or rest. How could they take it?

Gu Bo chuckled and waved a hand. "No need, they don't have to go. I'll go alone."

Not wanting to force the issue, Yang Xiao led Gu Bo to his camp.

The thirty girls were crowded around the stewing pot of dog meat, chatting and laughing happily as they inhaled the heavenly aroma, salivating nonstop. Many were urging impatiently, "Sister Huang Wen, when can we finally eat? My stomach's been growling forever!"

"I'm already full with my saliva alone!"

Seeing Yang Xiao bring Gu Bo over, they quickly freed up two seats.

Yang Xiao glanced at Huang Wen and asked, "Almost ready? Shall we start?"

"Wait a couple more minutes, Chubby and Chen Lu will be right back," she replied.

"Oh? Where'd they go?"

"You'll see." Huang Wen just smiled mysteriously.

Having no choice, Yang Xiao sat down with Gu Bo, who kept staring yearningly at the bubbling stew pot, licking his lips.

A few minutes later, Chubby and Chen Lu came jogging over, Chen Lu cradling a potted plant in her arms.

Yang Xiao was puzzled. They had time to go fetch pots of flowers? Just got a full meal and already showing off?

But as Chen Lu approached holding the pot, Yang Xiao grew excited too.

It turned out the pot contained not flowers, but green onion shoots!

Huang Wen announced proudly, "A couple of days ago when scavenging the teacher dorm ruins for food, we saw some pots with green onions that the teachers had planted. We didn't think much of it then, but just now we suddenly remembered and had Chubby and Chen Lu go retrieve some."

Yang Xiao instantly gave a thumbs-up.

Huang Wen plucked over a dozen green onion stalks from the pot, rinsed them quickly in water, then sliced them up and sprinkled them into the stew pot. The rich dog meat aroma now carried a fresh onion fragrance.

"Alright, we can start eating!" announced Huang Wen.

At her word, three girls immediately began ladling the dog meat into bowls. Over 30 steel bowls had already been set out and waiting.

First Huang Wen filled two big bowls with the meat and soup and served them to Yang Xiao and Gu Bo.

Accepting the bowl, Gu Bo chuckled. "Then I'll dig in without standing on ceremony."

"Eat up, no need to stand on ceremony," Yang Xiao said.

Gu Bo opened his mouth and a piece of dog meat flew right in. He chomped away, praising as he chewed, "Mm, smells great, delicious, so delicious!"

Yang Xiao sipped the soup and sampled the meat. It was indeed fresh and delicious, the flavor even better than usual dog meat.

Thirty girls each carried their bowls and began to eat eagerly, paying no attention to any ladylike demeanor, behaving like hungry wolves.

Outside the camp, there were dozens of hungry people standing, all of them smelling the delicious aroma of the dog meat, their mouths watering continuously, yet none of them dared to take a few more steps forward.

Everyone at the field had witnessed Yang Xiao's valor in slaying the black dog today. The black beast that even Xiao Zhe's crew had failed to kill was killed by Yang Xiao in one strike. Who would dare come courting death?

The scent of dog meat beckoned, but life was more precious.

As a kind-hearted girl, Huang Wen glanced sympathetically at the few dozen outside, then at Yang Xiao.

Yang Xiao said mildly, "Have you forgotten just a few days ago when you had nothing to eat yourself? Who would give you even a biscuit then? Also, remember it'll already be fortunate if half the people in this field survive. If any of you wish to give your share to classmates or friends you recognize, do as you please. But you cannot take food from the group to give to others."